AT&T introduces Digital Life home security and automation system

With the tap of a button on his iPhone, Frank Castaneda turned the lights on and off around his parents' house in Cooper City house. On an iPad, he checked still images captured via a camera installed at the home's front entrance.

Safe and sound. That's the idea behind AT&T's new high-tech home security and automation system that runs on the company's wireless 3G network.

South Florida is one of 15 markets in which AT&T Digital Life is being launched for the first time today. Digital Life allows users to control their home security alarm, small appliances, lighting and even their thermostat via smartphones, tablets or other devices.

"It's very simple, easy to use," Castaneda said as he monitored his parents' house. His father, an AT&T employee who allowed his home to be wired up as a test site, was away on a trip.

Max Mato, a Digital Life manager in the South Florida market, said the system can quickly turn a property into "a smart home."

"It's really peace of mind," Mato said.

AT&T's Digital Life service is currently available only in single-family homes. Customers can pay either $29.99 a month for "simple security" or $39.99 a month for the "smart security" package. There's a one-time $149.99 equipment fee for the simple security package and a $249.99 equipment fee for the smart security option and Mato said the systems can be installed easily in any home.

The most expensive choice has added features such as water leak detection sensors for an additional $4.99 per month, automated door locks for $4.99 more a month and live video-camera streaming for an added $9.99 per month.

Demand for advanced technology in security systems — such as biometrics, fingerprinting and face recognition — is projected to increase over the next few years, according to an industry research firm, providing opportunities for companies with the latest technological gadgets to gain a competitive advantage.

Over the next five years, the security alarm services industry is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.8 percent, according to IBISWorld, a California-based industry research firm. By 2018, industry revenue is expected to reach $19.2 billion, the firm said.

"It's going to increase relatively slowly over the next five years, but the largest factor driving the growth is the increased spending on residential construction," said Andrew Krabeepetcharat, an industry analyst with IBISWorld.

New companies entering the market will need to offer "one-stop shop" services to attract more customers, Krabeepetcharat said. An array of services that cover different types of alarms, like fire detection and intrusion alarm, he said.

The biggest player in the industry, both locally and nationwide, is Boca Raton-based ADT Security Services, with a market share over 25 percent, according to company and IBISWorld data.

Kelly Starling, AT&T spokeswoman, said the company's integration of home security and automation will be a "game changer" in the business.

"Competition drives innovation," Starling said. "It's time for a face lift in the industry."